• Great Wine Capitals Mainz & Rheinhessen
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• Tourism
• Wine
  • Riesling
  • Silvaner
  • Spätburgunder
• Economy
• Education
• Picture Gallery
• GWC Network

Wine Germany: Wineland Rheinhessen -
Germany's Largest Wine-Growing Region

Wineland Rheinhessen

With vineyards covering an area of 26,500 ha, Rheinhessen is Germany’s largest wine-growing region. More than 3,500 wine growers have their home in the great sweep of the Rhine between Bingen and Worms, with the metropolis Mainz at the centre. The dynamism and change in this wine-growing region with its over 2000-year tradition, are enormous. Particularly the young generation of winegrowers shows with commitment, know how and self-assurance that quality and greatness can produce outstanding wines.

Two thirds of the vineyards are planted with the white-wine grapes Riesling, Silvaner, Müller Thurgau, but also Scheurebe, the burgundy varieties, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. About one third of the rolling hills are cultivated with red-wine grapes. Dornfelder, Spätburgunder and Portugieser predominate, but St. Laurent, Regent, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon also produce outstanding wines.



One special case is the Selection Rheinhessen – since 1992 a particularly ambitious class of fine, dry wines which are produced in accordance with strict rules. The highest objective: outstanding quality. Since 2000, there has been the group of the Grosse Gewächse (Great Wines), a further designation of quality of the association Verband der Prädikatsweingüter Rheinhessen (VDP). The Grosse Gewächse focus on Riesling and Spätburgunder from the top locations of the region. Both programmes stand for top wines and the quality philosophy of the winegrowers in Rheinhessen.


A tingling delight for the palate is the Winzersekt (Winegrowers’ Sparkling Wine). It was invented in the 1980s. The base wines selected must come from the wine producer concerned and the sparkling wine is produced in accordance with the classic, but expensive champagne method with fermentation in the bottle.



With commitment and boldness, Rheinhessen is a major wine region in Germany. And the State Capital Mainz as its centre, located at the heart of the German winegrowing areas par excellence: Rhineland-Palatinate. Thus not only are wine producers with a rich tradition to be found within the city in the west of the Rhine-Main region, but also national institutions, such as the Deutsches Weininstitut (DWI). Wine culture and the enjoyment of wine are not only upheld as a tradition, but are also to be experienced in everyday life – whether when attending one of the wine-tasting events, such as Best of Mainz Wine, the Mainz Weinbörse or the Wine Forum Rheinhessen, or every week when sauntering across the market on Saturdays. A stroll around the old part of the city with a visit to a wine tavern also promises a special wine enjoyment.